Grant Only Fees
Fixed fee pricing – Grant of Probate/Grant of Letters of Administration
We can help you through this difficult process by obtaining the Grant of Probate/Grant of Letters of Administration on your behalf. This service is tailored for those individuals who require assistance with obtaining the Grant only and who are happy to deal with the administration of the estate themselves.
What does this service include?
As part of our fixed fee, we will:
• Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate lawyer to work on your matter
• Meet with you (virtually or in person) to discuss what information we require.
• Identify the type of Probate application you will require.
• Based upon the information you provide, prepare the Court application, legal statement of truth and HM Revenue & Customs inheritance tax forms (if necessary)
• Submit the inheritance tax forms to HM Revenue & Customs (if applicable)
• Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
• Chase and/or liaise with the Court
• Once the Grant has been issued, supply the Grant to you.
How much does this service cost?
The fixed fee will depend upon what inheritance tax forms are required by HM Revenue and Customs to be completed. This will depend upon the individual circumstances of the estate.
Non-taxable, simple estate:
This is on the basis that the estate is not taxable, a full inheritance tax account is not required to be submitted and you provide us with the figures required for the application. We charge a fixed fee of £1750 plus VAT for this service in addition to disbursements (such as the Court fee, which is £273 and an extra £1.50 per copy of the Grant required).
Non–taxable, more complex estate:
This is on the basis that the estate is not taxable, but a full inheritance tax account is required in order to claim certain exemptions/reliefs. It is also on the basis that you provide us with the figures required for the application. We charge a fixed fee of £3000 plus VAT for this service in addition to disbursements (such as the Court fee, which is £273 and an extra £1.50 per copy of the Grant required).
Taxable estate:
If the estate is a taxable estate, then a full account will be required. We will charge a fixed fee for obtaining the Grant, and this will be dependent upon how complex the matter is. There will be a minimum charge of £4500 plus VAT in addition to disbursements (such as the Court fee, which is £273 and an extra £1.50 per copy of the Grant required).
How long will this service take?
Typically, obtaining the Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration takes approximately 24-30 weeks from when the application is submitted to the Court. If the estate is taxable or full inheritance tax forms need to be submitted, a further 4 weeks is added to the estimated timescale.
Please note that this is a guideline only.
When might your legal costs be higher than the above-fixed fee price:
Where it is necessary to claim one or more of the exemptions to inheritance tax, such as the residence nil rate band, business or agricultural relief, or reliefs relating to lifetime gifts. Furthermore, there are occasionally circumstances when an estate may be more complex, and the above-fixed fee is not possible due to the work involved. You will be informed of this at the outset of the matter or as soon as we become aware of the issues. The below is not an exhaustive list, but are examples of when this might be the case:
• The original Will cannot be found
• There is property outside of England & Wales
• There are no executors/the executors have passed away/refusing to act
• An affidavit is required in respect of the Will
• A power reserved notice, renunciation or power of attorney document is required
• The deceased died domiciled outside of England & Wales
• If HMRC raise enquiries about the values submitted
• There is no Will and the beneficiaries are minors
• If there is no Will and detailed work needs to be carried out to trace the next of kin.
• If it is a complicated intestacy matter
• If there are issues with the Will (defaced/altered)
Please contact our friendly team for an exact quote depending on your particular circumstances.
Full Administration Fees
Probate costs for dealing with the full administration of the estate
The exact cost of applying for the Grant, collecting the assets and dealing with the distribution of the estate will very much depend on the individual circumstances of the matter.
What does this service include?
As part of this service, we will:
• Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate lawyer to work on your matter
• Meet with you (virtually or in person) to discuss what information we require.
• Identify the type of Probate application you will require.
• Contact all asset holders and liabilities to obtain date of death valuations
• Prepare the Court application, legal statement of truth and HM Revenue & Customs inheritance tax forms (if necessary)
• Submit the inheritance tax forms to HM Revenue & Customs (if applicable)
• Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
• Chase and/or liaise with the Court
• Once the Grant has been issued, prepare the closure forms/transfer forms.
• Correspond with banks/assets to release funds
• Look to discharge any liabilities
• Sell investments and/or property (if applicable)
• Pay any pecuniary legacies
• Contact the beneficiaries of the estate and carry out bankruptcy searches
• Draw up estate accounts and deal with the distribution of the estate.
How much does this service cost?
The cost will very much depend upon the circumstances of the matter. Our fees are typically based on how much time is spent on the matter at the hourly rate of the person dealing with the administration of the estate.
We can provide you with an estimate of costs at the outset. There will also be disbursements such as:
Probate Court fee of £273 plus £1.50 per copy of the Grant.
Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (For example, £2 per UK resident beneficiary)
Costs Upon Request: The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors, if required.
Costs Upon Request: Post in a Local Newspaper – Protects against unexpected claims where the estate includes land if required.
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
How long will this service take?
Typically, obtaining the Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration takes approximately 24-30 weeks from when the application is submitted to the Court. If the estate is taxable or full inheritance tax forms need to be submitted, a further 4 weeks is added to the estimated timescale. Please note that this is a guideline only.
The likely timescale for the full administration of an estate is 12-24 months, but much of this depends upon the complexity of the matter.